US4391224A - Animal amusement apparatus - Google Patents
Animal amusement apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US4391224A US4391224A US06/287,191 US28719181A US4391224A US 4391224 A US4391224 A US 4391224A US 28719181 A US28719181 A US 28719181A US 4391224 A US4391224 A US 4391224A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- animal
- motor
- transmitter
- prey
- signal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H30/00—Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles
- A63H30/02—Electrical arrangements
- A63H30/04—Electrical arrangements using wireless transmission
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K15/00—Devices for taming animals, e.g. nose-rings or hobbles; Devices for overturning animals in general; Training or exercising equipment; Covering boxes
- A01K15/02—Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals ; Electric shock devices ; Toys specially adapted for animals
- A01K15/025—Toys specially adapted for animals
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H13/00—Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole
- A63H13/02—Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole imitating natural actions, e.g. catching a mouse by a cat, the kicking of an animal
Definitions
- the field of this invention relates to an amusement device which is designed primarily to be employed in conjunction with animals, such as dogs and cats.
- the toy of this invention takes the form of a ball, cylinder, wheel device, or other type of motile device, each of which is to be readily movable along a supportive surface, such as the ground.
- a motor which operates a drive wheel assembly.
- the drive wheel assembly is to be in continuous contact with the inner surface of the ball, cylinder or wheel device.
- Operation of the motor operates the drive wheel assembly which moves the motor and drive assembly within the device, which in turn cause the device to randomly move across the supportive surface.
- a radio receiver located within the device is a radio receiver which will, when activated by a certain radio signal, cause the motor to become operative.
- a certain radio signal is transmitted from a radio transmitter which is carried by the animal itself, such as on the collar located about the neck of the animal.
- the radio receiver only causes activation of the motor when the transmitted signal is of a certain described strength, such as when the animal is within a hundred and fifty to two hundred centimeters of the device.
- the primary objective of this invention is to construct an animal toy which when the animal comes within a few feet of the toy, the toy randomly moves, thereby freeing the owner from the sometimes onerous and time consuming duty of entertaining a bored, unhappy pet, and at the same time providing the pet owner with the pleasurable entertainment of watching his active pet. It is the unique utilization of this "chase" instinct in all animals by this device that makes it especially attractive, and useful, as a pet toy.
- FIG. 1 is a diagramatic view showing the toy of this invention as it would be utilized in connection with a domestic animal, such as a cat;
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of the apparatus of this invention taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram of the apparatus of this invention.
- FIG. 1 there is depicted in FIG. 1 an animal 10, which has a collar 12 located about the neck of the animal.
- a device in the form of a ball 14 is shown located upon a supportive surface in close proximity to the animal 10. It is to be understood that the basic operation of the apparatus of this invention is that when the animal 10 comes within a certain range of the device 14, that the device 14 will become activated and begin to randomly move upon the supportive surface. This will then function to attract the animal 10, which will cause the animal 10 to chase, bite or otherwise be entertained by the ball 14.
- Radio transmitter 16 Attached to the collar 12 is a radio transmitter 16.
- the use of radio transmitters is deemed to be conventional and does not, in and of itself, contain any novel features.
- a typical example of a radio transmitter would comprise a mechanical arrangement that generates an ultrasonic tone burst by mechanically striking a bar of metal.
- a power source 17 being attached to the collar 12.
- the power source is to function to cause the ultrasonic tone to be constantly emitted from the transmitter 16.
- the transmitter 16 is specifically fabricated to have a limited transmitting range.
- the preferable limited effective transmitting range should be within one hundred and fifty to two hundred centimeters. This means that once the animal 10 gets within one hundred and fifty to two hundred centimeters of the ball 14 that the ball 14 will then begin to move randomly.
- the ball 14 takes the form of a two-part housing 18 within which is located an internal chamber 20. Within the internal chamber 20, there is located a motor 22 which is to be operated by electrical energy from a battery 24 to rotate a shaft 26. Attached to the shaft 26 are a pair of driving wheels 28 and 30.
- the driving wheels 28 and 30 will normally be constructed of a frictionally grabbing material, such as rubber or the like. The wheels 28 and 30 are to be in continuous contact with the wall of the chamber 20.
- a radio receiver 32 Located adjacent the motor 22 is a radio receiver 32. Electrically connected between the motor 22 and the radio receiver 32 is a switch in the form of a switching relay 34 and an amplifier 36. Upon the radio receiver receiving the radio signal from the radio transmitter 16, the switch 34 is closed which will cause the electrical power from the power source 38 to be conducted through the switch 34 and be amplified by the amplifier 36 and then be conducted to the motor to operate the motor 22. It is to be understood that the motor 22 will continue to operate as long as the radio receiver 32 continues to receive the signal from the transmitter 16.
- the structure of the radio receiver 32 is also, in and of itself, deemed to be conventional. Typical construction of the receiver would be an ultrasonic transducer that produces an electrical signal when an ultrasonic tone is received.
- a hunting game could be manufactured wherein the firearm included the transmitter and the target (now movable) included the receiver.
- the firearm could firm harmless projectiles, such as a rubber suction tipped dart.
- the radio transmitter could comprise an ultrasonic emitter, a light source, a heat source or an electromagnetic source.
Abstract
Description
Claims (3)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/287,191 US4391224A (en) | 1981-07-27 | 1981-07-27 | Animal amusement apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/287,191 US4391224A (en) | 1981-07-27 | 1981-07-27 | Animal amusement apparatus |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US4391224A true US4391224A (en) | 1983-07-05 |
Family
ID=23101838
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US06/287,191 Expired - Lifetime US4391224A (en) | 1981-07-27 | 1981-07-27 | Animal amusement apparatus |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4391224A (en) |
Cited By (40)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4501569A (en) * | 1983-01-25 | 1985-02-26 | Clark Jr Leonard R | Spherical vehicle control system |
US4701681A (en) * | 1985-06-28 | 1987-10-20 | Ozen Corporation | Starting device for a toy motor using an ultrasonic wave signal |
DE3730670A1 (en) * | 1987-09-12 | 1989-03-30 | Philipp Tussinger | Entertainment apparatus |
GB2183414B (en) * | 1985-11-07 | 1989-10-18 | Randers Systems Inc | Radio receiver |
US5439408A (en) * | 1994-04-26 | 1995-08-08 | Wilkinson; William T. | Remote controlled movable ball amusement device |
US5524326A (en) * | 1993-01-21 | 1996-06-11 | Markowitz; Eli | Interactive game between pet and owner |
US5535703A (en) * | 1995-04-03 | 1996-07-16 | Kerzner; Mark I. | Animal amusement device |
US5575240A (en) * | 1995-07-18 | 1996-11-19 | Udelle; Steven D. | Animal attracting sound producing ball |
US5657721A (en) * | 1993-08-23 | 1997-08-19 | Mayfield; Lydia J. | Cat exercise toy |
US5871386A (en) * | 1997-07-25 | 1999-02-16 | William T. Wilkinson | Remote controlled movable ball amusement device |
US5881679A (en) * | 1997-07-29 | 1999-03-16 | Hann; Lenn R. | Magnetic pendulum device for feline amusement and exercise |
US5893791A (en) * | 1997-06-02 | 1999-04-13 | Wilkinson; William T. | Remote controlled rolling toy |
US5934223A (en) * | 1998-01-29 | 1999-08-10 | Ellery-Guy; Erin P. | Pet toy |
US6237538B1 (en) | 1998-06-09 | 2001-05-29 | Napro, Inc. | Pet toy ball feeder |
US6371053B1 (en) | 1999-01-08 | 2002-04-16 | Steven Tsengas | Simulated mouse toy having a prerecorded sound chip therein |
US6402630B1 (en) | 2001-04-06 | 2002-06-11 | Nelson Tyler | Bowling ball |
US6482064B1 (en) * | 2000-08-02 | 2002-11-19 | Interlego Ag | Electronic toy system and an electronic ball |
US6550426B2 (en) | 1999-01-08 | 2003-04-22 | Steven Tsengas | Pet toy |
US6569025B1 (en) * | 2002-03-07 | 2003-05-27 | Nelson Tyler | Bowling ball |
US6571415B2 (en) | 2000-12-01 | 2003-06-03 | The Hoover Company | Random motion cleaner |
US20040059466A1 (en) * | 2002-07-12 | 2004-03-25 | Block Robert S. | Interactive mobile food dispenser |
US20040198159A1 (en) * | 2003-01-06 | 2004-10-07 | Yang-Sheng Xu | Mobile roly-poly-type apparatus and method |
US20040219499A1 (en) * | 2003-05-01 | 2004-11-04 | Cesa Joseph A. | Interactive toy |
US20050022751A1 (en) * | 2003-05-02 | 2005-02-03 | Nelson Roland D. | Interactive Animal |
US20060054104A1 (en) * | 2004-09-15 | 2006-03-16 | Pet Qwerks, Inc. | Pet toy having intersecting tires |
US7059933B1 (en) * | 2000-07-05 | 2006-06-13 | Elan Microelectronics Corp. | Ultrasonic signaling interactive toy |
US20060154558A1 (en) * | 2005-01-10 | 2006-07-13 | Rick Rowe | Motorized amusement device |
US20060150918A1 (en) * | 2005-01-10 | 2006-07-13 | Rick Rowe | Pet amusement device |
US7217170B2 (en) | 2004-10-26 | 2007-05-15 | Mattel, Inc. | Transformable toy vehicle |
US20080268747A1 (en) * | 2007-04-24 | 2008-10-30 | Reynolds Ellsworth Moulton | Motion sensor activated interactive device |
US20090272326A1 (en) * | 2008-05-01 | 2009-11-05 | Roger Bacon | Apparatus for Feeding, Training, and Amusing Animals |
US20100024740A1 (en) * | 2008-02-26 | 2010-02-04 | Ryan Grepper | Remotely Operable User Controlled Pet Entertainment Device |
US8197298B2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2012-06-12 | Mattel, Inc. | Transformable toy vehicle |
GB2492110A (en) * | 2011-06-22 | 2012-12-26 | Pet Accessory Workshop Ltd | Intelligent pet toy |
US8347823B1 (en) * | 2009-07-07 | 2013-01-08 | Roy Justin Thomas | Pet triggered programmable toy |
US8474409B1 (en) * | 2007-08-17 | 2013-07-02 | Ourpet's Company | Ultrasonic stimulating pet toy |
US20150237828A1 (en) * | 2014-02-18 | 2015-08-27 | Rosse Mary Peavey | Fun ball |
CN105191818A (en) * | 2015-10-15 | 2015-12-30 | 成都九十度工业产品设计有限公司 | Automatic control system and method of pet dog call-back training device |
US10362764B2 (en) * | 2016-03-21 | 2019-07-30 | Worldwise, Inc. | Cat amusement system |
US10390517B2 (en) * | 2015-10-05 | 2019-08-27 | Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc. | Animal toy |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4036178A (en) * | 1974-01-31 | 1977-07-19 | Barry Thomas Lee | Electronic lock and key system |
US4194737A (en) * | 1978-06-29 | 1980-03-25 | Farmer William R | Erratically rollable game device |
US4213270A (en) * | 1978-08-07 | 1980-07-22 | Nobuo Oda | Radio controlled wheel toy |
US4270307A (en) * | 1979-10-16 | 1981-06-02 | Takara Co., Ltd. | Remote controlled steerable amphibious toy |
-
1981
- 1981-07-27 US US06/287,191 patent/US4391224A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4036178A (en) * | 1974-01-31 | 1977-07-19 | Barry Thomas Lee | Electronic lock and key system |
US4194737A (en) * | 1978-06-29 | 1980-03-25 | Farmer William R | Erratically rollable game device |
US4213270A (en) * | 1978-08-07 | 1980-07-22 | Nobuo Oda | Radio controlled wheel toy |
US4270307A (en) * | 1979-10-16 | 1981-06-02 | Takara Co., Ltd. | Remote controlled steerable amphibious toy |
Cited By (55)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4501569A (en) * | 1983-01-25 | 1985-02-26 | Clark Jr Leonard R | Spherical vehicle control system |
US4701681A (en) * | 1985-06-28 | 1987-10-20 | Ozen Corporation | Starting device for a toy motor using an ultrasonic wave signal |
GB2183414B (en) * | 1985-11-07 | 1989-10-18 | Randers Systems Inc | Radio receiver |
DE3730670A1 (en) * | 1987-09-12 | 1989-03-30 | Philipp Tussinger | Entertainment apparatus |
US5524326A (en) * | 1993-01-21 | 1996-06-11 | Markowitz; Eli | Interactive game between pet and owner |
US5765508A (en) * | 1993-01-21 | 1998-06-16 | Markowitz; Eli | Interactive game between pet and owner |
US5657721A (en) * | 1993-08-23 | 1997-08-19 | Mayfield; Lydia J. | Cat exercise toy |
US5439408A (en) * | 1994-04-26 | 1995-08-08 | Wilkinson; William T. | Remote controlled movable ball amusement device |
US5535703A (en) * | 1995-04-03 | 1996-07-16 | Kerzner; Mark I. | Animal amusement device |
US5575240A (en) * | 1995-07-18 | 1996-11-19 | Udelle; Steven D. | Animal attracting sound producing ball |
US5893791A (en) * | 1997-06-02 | 1999-04-13 | Wilkinson; William T. | Remote controlled rolling toy |
US6066026A (en) * | 1997-07-25 | 2000-05-23 | William T. Wilkinson | Remote controlled simulated tire amusement device |
US5871386A (en) * | 1997-07-25 | 1999-02-16 | William T. Wilkinson | Remote controlled movable ball amusement device |
US5881679A (en) * | 1997-07-29 | 1999-03-16 | Hann; Lenn R. | Magnetic pendulum device for feline amusement and exercise |
US5934223A (en) * | 1998-01-29 | 1999-08-10 | Ellery-Guy; Erin P. | Pet toy |
US6237538B1 (en) | 1998-06-09 | 2001-05-29 | Napro, Inc. | Pet toy ball feeder |
US6371053B1 (en) | 1999-01-08 | 2002-04-16 | Steven Tsengas | Simulated mouse toy having a prerecorded sound chip therein |
US6550426B2 (en) | 1999-01-08 | 2003-04-22 | Steven Tsengas | Pet toy |
US7059933B1 (en) * | 2000-07-05 | 2006-06-13 | Elan Microelectronics Corp. | Ultrasonic signaling interactive toy |
US6482064B1 (en) * | 2000-08-02 | 2002-11-19 | Interlego Ag | Electronic toy system and an electronic ball |
US6571415B2 (en) | 2000-12-01 | 2003-06-03 | The Hoover Company | Random motion cleaner |
US20030205242A1 (en) * | 2000-12-01 | 2003-11-06 | Gerber Douglas E. | Random motion cleaner |
US7254859B2 (en) | 2000-12-01 | 2007-08-14 | The Hoover Company | Random motion cleaner |
US6402630B1 (en) | 2001-04-06 | 2002-06-11 | Nelson Tyler | Bowling ball |
US6569025B1 (en) * | 2002-03-07 | 2003-05-27 | Nelson Tyler | Bowling ball |
US6904868B2 (en) * | 2002-07-12 | 2005-06-14 | Robert S. Block | Interactive mobile food dispenser |
US20040059466A1 (en) * | 2002-07-12 | 2004-03-25 | Block Robert S. | Interactive mobile food dispenser |
US20040198159A1 (en) * | 2003-01-06 | 2004-10-07 | Yang-Sheng Xu | Mobile roly-poly-type apparatus and method |
US7258591B2 (en) * | 2003-01-06 | 2007-08-21 | The Chinese University Of Hong Kong | Mobile roly-poly-type apparatus and method |
US20040219499A1 (en) * | 2003-05-01 | 2004-11-04 | Cesa Joseph A. | Interactive toy |
US6964572B2 (en) | 2003-05-01 | 2005-11-15 | The First Years Inc. | Interactive toy |
US20050022751A1 (en) * | 2003-05-02 | 2005-02-03 | Nelson Roland D. | Interactive Animal |
US20060054104A1 (en) * | 2004-09-15 | 2006-03-16 | Pet Qwerks, Inc. | Pet toy having intersecting tires |
US20070277747A1 (en) * | 2004-09-15 | 2007-12-06 | Pet Qwerks, Inc. | Pet toy having intersecting tires |
US20070210540A1 (en) * | 2004-10-26 | 2007-09-13 | Mattel, Inc. | Transformable toy vehicle |
US7794300B2 (en) | 2004-10-26 | 2010-09-14 | Mattel, Inc. | Transformable toy vehicle |
US7217170B2 (en) | 2004-10-26 | 2007-05-15 | Mattel, Inc. | Transformable toy vehicle |
US20070017454A1 (en) * | 2005-01-10 | 2007-01-25 | Rick Rowe | Pet amusement device |
US20060150918A1 (en) * | 2005-01-10 | 2006-07-13 | Rick Rowe | Pet amusement device |
US7347761B2 (en) | 2005-01-10 | 2008-03-25 | Think Tek, Inc. | Motorized amusement device |
US20060154558A1 (en) * | 2005-01-10 | 2006-07-13 | Rick Rowe | Motorized amusement device |
US8197298B2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2012-06-12 | Mattel, Inc. | Transformable toy vehicle |
US20080268747A1 (en) * | 2007-04-24 | 2008-10-30 | Reynolds Ellsworth Moulton | Motion sensor activated interactive device |
US20140064504A1 (en) * | 2007-08-17 | 2014-03-06 | Steven Tsengas | Ultrasonic Stimulating Pet Toy |
US8474409B1 (en) * | 2007-08-17 | 2013-07-02 | Ourpet's Company | Ultrasonic stimulating pet toy |
US9021989B2 (en) * | 2007-08-17 | 2015-05-05 | Steven Tsengas | Ultrasonic stimulating pet toy |
US20100024740A1 (en) * | 2008-02-26 | 2010-02-04 | Ryan Grepper | Remotely Operable User Controlled Pet Entertainment Device |
US20090272326A1 (en) * | 2008-05-01 | 2009-11-05 | Roger Bacon | Apparatus for Feeding, Training, and Amusing Animals |
US8347823B1 (en) * | 2009-07-07 | 2013-01-08 | Roy Justin Thomas | Pet triggered programmable toy |
GB2492110A (en) * | 2011-06-22 | 2012-12-26 | Pet Accessory Workshop Ltd | Intelligent pet toy |
US20150237828A1 (en) * | 2014-02-18 | 2015-08-27 | Rosse Mary Peavey | Fun ball |
US10390517B2 (en) * | 2015-10-05 | 2019-08-27 | Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc. | Animal toy |
US10595511B2 (en) | 2015-10-05 | 2020-03-24 | Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc. | Animal toy |
CN105191818A (en) * | 2015-10-15 | 2015-12-30 | 成都九十度工业产品设计有限公司 | Automatic control system and method of pet dog call-back training device |
US10362764B2 (en) * | 2016-03-21 | 2019-07-30 | Worldwise, Inc. | Cat amusement system |
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